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Imagine someone could learn about you only by looking through your trash can. What three items might they find in your trash today, and what would each item reveal about your personality, habits, interests, or life right now?

Prompt Response: If someone were to look in my trash can, one thing they would see is an old theatre to-do list that has chores scratched off. This would show that I enjoy doing theatre and that I am committed to it. Another thing that they would see is about four cans of sparkling water, showing that I drink a lot of sparkling water, but also that I have a bubbly personality and I like to stay hydrated. One final thing that they would see is random food wrappers and pieces of paper. These reveal that I try to clean up after myself and that I pick up trash when I see it to help others. Summary: In class today, we finished working on our characterization sheets where, in my case, I found ten items that would be found in the character's trash. Reflection: Similar to previous assignments relating to our story "The Rockpile" by James Baldwin this assignment really makes you think about the character and every aspect of their life.
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Today, we learned about the two types of characterization: direct and indirect characterization. We then applied what we learned by analyzing characters from James Baldwin’s “The Rockpile” using the STEAL method: Speech, Thoughts, Effect on Others, Actions, and Looks. Now, apply characterization to yourself. If someone were using the STEAL method to characterize you, how would they describe you? Select all parts of STEAL and explain what they reveal about your personality.

Prompt Response: I do not know exactly how someone were to describe me, but my speach would reveal that I am interested in the world around me, that I don't support genocide or the destruction of Earth's ecosystems, and that I can acknowledge my mistakes. My thoughts reveal that I have a unique way of seeing the world and that I love my friends more than they know. I don't believe that my effect on others is very significant, but the effect that I do have is, I like to think, positive, and making people feel loved and welcome. Though I can't really know what my actions reveal about me to other people, I try to show that I care about the people around me, that I support our environment, and that I like to enjoy life. I think my looks show that I don't care about how I look very much, but my friends have, on occasion, told me that I look whimsical and pretty. Summary: Today, we spent our class period reviewing the story "The Rockpile" by James Baldwin throug...
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In "The Rockpile", John and Roy do not always receive the same treatment from the adults in their family. Have you ever felt that you or someone else in your family was treated differently from everyone else? What caused the difference, and do you think it was fair? Explain.

Prompt Response: I am lucky to have a family that treats everyone fairly, but I suppose a small exception to that would be my grandma on my mom's side. Me and my sister call her Nammah. She is in her early 80's now and occasionally gets a bit confused with something that someone else has said or misunderstood a conversation. We know that she can't help it, so we just let it happen instead of correcting her, like we would with anyone else. Unlike in "The Rockpile," it is not a serious conflict that is based in a family dynamic. Summary: Today, we had a discussion in class about the review questions about "The Rockpile," talking about the themes and conflicts in the story. Reflection: Continuing to talk about "The Rockpile" has enlightened me of the way others interpret the story, as well as themes and deeper meanings that I hadn't previously though about.
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In “The Rockpile,” the children know that the rockpile is dangerous and that they are supposed to stay away from it, but curiosity still draws them toward it. Think about a time when curiosity or temptation caused you to ignore a warning or rule. What happened, and what did you learn from the experience?

Prompt Response: A time that temptation caused me to ignore a warning was when I was on build crew for Anything Goes, the spring musical last year. When we were painting all of the larger pieces for the main boat, I was rushing and gripping the paint roller really hard, causing myself to actually get a few blisters. This instance of temptation causing me to ignore the instructions and warnings taught me that it is okay to be excited, but you must keep in mind the proper way of doing things. Summary: In class, we began reading a new story entitled "The Rockpile." This story by James Baldwin focuses on a randomly placed rockpile that the kids of the neighborhood go to fight on. Reflection: Reading The Rockpilehas brought along the realization that the relationship between the rules and the curiosity/temptation that pushes people to break those rules seldom ends with the rules on top.
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September 11 changed many aspects of American life, even though your generation was born afterward. Think about a major event that has happened during your own lifetime, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or another event that affected your community or the country. How do you think your experience with that event helps you understand what it might have been like for Americans to experience the uncertainty and change following 9/11? Explain the connection.

Prompt Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, myself and my peers were in the middle of fourth grade. We were very young when COVID started, and when we started coming back to school, it was awkward and quiet. I personally do not know anyone who died from the COVID-19 virus, but I know many who had it, myself included. This situation, though global and dangerous, did not affect me quite so significantly as any affected by the 9/11 attacks. However, I imagine that some of the recovery and initial feeling was quite similar between the two events. In the beginning, we we confused and unsure of how the immediate future would pan out, and at the end, we were both still questioning whether everything was going to be okay or not. Summary: During class today, we took our final test on A Rose for Emily, helping us relfection on the story and it's deeper meaning. Reflection: Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic brings up memories that not only help me relfect on what my own experience was li...
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Emily struggles with letting go of people throughout her life, and the ending reveals the extreme length she went to in order to keep Homer with her. Why do you think some people have such a difficult time accepting loss or change? Connect Emily’s actions to your own observations or experiences with people struggling to let go.

Prompt Response: I think that some people have a difficult time processing loss and change because they were raised their entire life with such little change that they struggle immensely to adapt when change arises in their adult life. Any change in general takes time to adapt to, such as the death of a family member or suddenly getting fired from your job. Some changes or losses can take years to adapt to or recover from, while others can take only a day or a week. Personally, the main changes in my life have been the loss of friends or the death of my pets, and while this is not the most accurate analogy to Miss Emily's situation in A Rose for Emily, I kept things that reminded me of them. Though I kept pieces of paper, and trinkets, instead of the person's dead body. Summary: Today, in class, we finished reading A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner, a story that really gets into the nitty gritty of adapting to change and communicating with your community. Reflection: Reading...
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In Part I of A Rose for Emily, Emily’s house stands out from the community and reflects both her past and the changes happening around her. Think about a house, building, or place that holds special memories for you. What does that place look like, what memories do you connect with it, and what does it represent to you?

Prompt Response: It may be simple, but a place that holds special memories for me was the old front roo in my house. For some context, a few years ago we did a bit of renovation to the house, and the wall dividing the front room from the kitchen is not there anymore. This front room was not as often used for social gatherings, or much else for that matter, but the dirty carpeted floor, the uncomfortable couch, and the way my pets would relax in there is so very comforting to me. That room is no longer, but I occasionally find myself thinking about it. Summary: Today, we talked about a story by William Faulkner, titled "A Rose for Emily." This story carries strong themes of isolation and human interaction.  Relfection: A Rose for Emily is a story that really makes you think about its deeper meanings, as well as making you look inside yourself to relfection on how you personally adapt to change and new interactions.
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